Revenge: Tri-Stone Trilogy, Book Two Page 13

  Alex strokes my cheek with his thumb. "I know you're strong—it's one of the things that first attracted me to you." He blows out air in one long exhale. "I just get overwhelmed at the thought of you ever getting hurt, and I try to prevent it. And, yes, I understand that handling it in that manner ends up hurting you even more. I'm learning, Kylie. I know we're at our strongest when we work together. And I will try to remind myself of that fact when I my instinct to protect you takes over."

  He dips his head, takes my bottom lip between his teeth, and tugs. I wrap my arms around his neck, and pull him on top of me, deepening the kiss. It's a curl-your-toes, make-your-head-swim passionate kiss, and when we finally separate, we're breathing heavy and hard.

  "I think this call for a celebration," he says, his voice low and gravelly, "don't you?"

  My body heats with lust. God, this man can turn me on with just a drop in his voice. "What do you have in mind?"

  He scoots down the bed, his hands on my knees gently pushing them apart, and he picks up where he left off earlier. My back arches, and I gasp as his tongue licks along my seam.

  "Oh, I like this is idea." I close my eyes, and let him work me into a frenzy, and a mind-bending orgasm.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The days run together as the hearing approaches. Every night Alex asks me how preparations are going, and I respond as positively as I can. But it's a farce. I feel anything but positive about this appeal. So much is riding on it— Alex has so much faith in me. I see it in his eyes when we talk about the case, but it's faith I don't share. If James is acquitted, it will kill Alex and that will devastate me. I want so badly to win this for him and his family, ensure James serves his life sentence without the possibility of parole. Victory is there, in front of me, taunting me. I can see every point the defense will make, every allegation they will put before the jury, and I can counter every single one. So why am I so anxious?

  Late at night, after Alex is asleep, I lay in bed and envision the entire trial. I go over every piece of evidence, every question I anticipate asking, and what the defense's objections will be. My mind goes blank, and I'm suddenly flustered, ignorant of the case I've spent the last few weeks preparing to present to the court. Completely tongue-tied as I watched the faces of the jury stare at me while I fumble through questioning the witness. The ache of failure is so real, I wake in a cold sweat, and doubt my competence.

  My cell phone rings, and I press the hands free button on my steering wheel to answer the call.

  "Hey, Kylie, it's Lisa. I'm going over some of the stuff you emailed me, and something's just not making sense."

  "Okay." I perk up a bit. Lisa and I have worked many cases together and I trust her instincts. "What's bothering you?"

  "The police arrested James later that night, after Ellen's death. I'm going over the police report for James's arrest, and part of it's missing."

  "Which part?" I turn down the driveway and slow as I approach the house. I want to finish this conversation in the car. I don't like discussing the case in front of Alex. It's too personal to him, and when I'm knee-deep in a case, my filters are turned off, and I make what appears to him to be callous remarks.

  I can hear Lisa's inhale, hold it, and then slowly release her breath. "The blood-alcohol test."

  "So there's no way to show just how drunk he was that night." I state.

  "Or wasn't…"

  Lisa's word sting like a slap across the face. "You think the police department lost it on purpose?"

  "I don't know, but it makes the defense's argument that it was a cover-up to frame James for something Alex did a little easier to make – circumstantially, anyway."

  "On top of the questionable police interview of Alex the next day…" Shit! "Okay, let me think about it and we'll talk later." I'm missing something, the one piece that will bring it all into focus, but I'll be damned if I can get a grasp on it. I swing into the garage, turn off the engine, and walk into the kitchen as I end the call.

  Maggie is in the pantry and startles when she sees me. "Oh, Kylie, I didn't hear you come in. I'm just putting groceries away."

  "Anything good?" I hope she remembers to restock my Cocoa puffs. It's my go–to breakfast item when I'm prepping for trial.

  "Your coffee, and I'm pretty sure you won't run out for a while. There must be thirty bags. Took up almost an entire shelf."

  I chuckle. Well, Alex really went overboard, which isn't all that surprising – King of grand gestures that he is – but that amount of coffee all at once borders on the ridiculous. Thank goodness I finally got a taste for it. If it hadn't been a gift from him, I would've thrown it out after my first cup.

  Even in the midst of our separation, when I was so mad at him I didn't want to speak to him, something inside me melted knowing he put effort into a thoughtful gift he knew I would appreciate. Thinking about it now sends a rush of warmth through me. God, I love that man. "Well, I'll take some into the office with me. Maybe that'll free up some space."

  I walk around the island toward the foyer. "Is Alex in his study?"

  "I believe so." Maggie grabs a box off the counter and heads back into the pantry.

  My heels click against the travertine tile as I cross the foyer, the echo bouncing off the twenty-foot ceiling above. My cell phone buzzes in my hand, and I answer without looking at it.

  "Hey, darlin'," Ryan's voice greets me.

  "Hey, what's going on in the big city?"

  "Well, Paul and I have some news and a favor to ask you –"

  "It's short notice and hopefully it won't interfere with your hearing." Paul adds, on the extension, as he usually is when they call together.

  "Is this about the adoption? Did you find a surrogate already?" A pang of guilt hits me square in the chest. I haven't been keeping up with where they are in the process despite my promise to help them.

  "No," Ryan answers. "It's not about the adoption."

  There's a long pause, and my chest tightens. "Are you going to tell me or leave me hanging here?"

  "We're getting hitched," Paul says.

  The words sink in—married— and my heart floods with pure joy. "What?" I shriek. "Oh my God. When did this happen?" I glance up just as Alex bolts out of his office and into the hallway.

  "Thanksgiving weekend."

  "Okay, I'm almost certain the trial will be wrapped up by then." I rap on the wood column near me. No need to jinx myself. "What's the favor?"

  It's silent on the other end.

  "I swear, if you don't spill it, I will beat the ever living crap out of both of you when I see you."

  Alex walks towards me, his eyebrows tightly knit.

  Paul finally speaks up. "K, we need you to stand up with us – be our best woman or maid of honor – whatever you'd be called."

  Alex stops in front of me. I reach out, grasp his hand, and tears well in my eyes. "Of course I will." A lump lodges in my throat, and I struggle to speak over it "I'd be honored… " my voice trails off and I choke back a sob.

  "You okay, darlin'?"

  "Yeah," I manage to get out. Okay? Okay doesn't come close to what I'm feeling. The two people that have been my closest friends for so many years—my brothers, my family—are going to make a commitment to one another, and want me to stand up with them as they do. My heart soars, like a bird in flight, peas gliding around me while pure contentment settled over me.

  "Okay, we'll talk to you when you stop boohooing," Paul says, always the smartass.

  "Shut up, Paul," I admonish, and take a deep breath. "I love you guys and I'm so happy for you."

  "We love you, too, K." Paul's voice is soft, which brings more tears streaming down my cheeks. I end the call, place the phone to my chest, and sigh.

  "What the hell is going on?" Alex's hands grip my upper arms, his eyes intense as they gaze at me.

  "Paul and Ryan are getting married." I squeak out.

  "Oh, Jesus, Kylie. You scared me half to death." He chuckles and pulls me against him.


  I nuzzle into his neck, inhaling his musky scent. "I'm sorry."

  "So, this is you happy?" He asks.

  I nod my head against his chest.

  "You are one-of-a-kind, my love." He kisses the top of my head. "Come on, let's get a drink." He leads me into the living room and straight to the bar.

  I drop onto the couch, sink into the cushions, and rest my head against the back. A glass clinks next to me, I open one eye, and spot my drink front of my face. I lift my head, sit up, and take glass from Alex. Gin and tonic. The man knows me too well.

  "Thanks." I smile and take a sip, it chills my mouth and throat before the alcohol burns a path my stomach. "Mmm, that's just what I need."

  Alex sits beside me, and turns to face me. His arm rests on the back of the couch, his fingers twist and twirl in my hair. "Tough day?" he asks, eyeing me, and takes a drink of his Macallan.

  "Not really. It's just making sure we have everything in order for the hearing. The exhibits are all numbered and logged. Matt and I agreed that he would handle opening and closing arguments, so that's off my list. I'm stressing about the projection in the courtroom. Lisa promises she'll be there to run it, but, you know—law school," I shrug. "The usual pretrial worries. "

  His eyes have a dreaminess to them, and his mouth raises at the corners. "I love when you talk legalese to me. It's so sexy and it totally turns me on."

  I laugh. "That seriously brings your sanity into question."

  "That ship sailed long ago, baby. People have been questioning my sanity for a good portion of my life."

  I place my finger under his chin and pull it toward me. "Luckily, I have a thing for crazy billionaires." I place my lips on his, scotch mixing with the citrusy remnants of my drink on my lips.

  "I can't wait to see you in action," he murmurs.

  My heart flips and flops painfully in my chest. I pull away, my pulse racing, "Are you coming to the hearing?" Please say no, please say no.

  "Absolutely, I wouldn't miss watching my favorite attorney rip Geoffrey Hamilton to shreds."

  "It's really boring, you remember from the last trial you came to. It's not like a TV trial."

  His eyes narrow slightly and dance back and forth between mine as if he's trying to catch a glimpse of what I'm feeling. "Are you trying to dissuade me from coming?"

  "No that's not it at all." Lie. "I just don't want you to be disappointed."

  Alex nuzzled his nose against my neck. "Well, if you're arguing, it has to be sexy. It's inevitable, and I want to see you take command of that courtroom just like you have in every other courtroom I've seen you in."

  Something stirs in the pit of my stomach, bile threatens to force its way up my throat. My chest seizes, fingers of pain squeeze my lungs, and my heart knocks out an unsteady beat. How do I tell him that his presence in the courtroom will heighten my overloaded anxiety? Especially when he just wants to be supportive.

  Doubt courses through my veins, and pools at the base of my skull, fog clouds my ability to think clearly. I've never experienced this before – not in law school, not my first case, not once during the capital murder trial. Maybe I should call Ryan, but he'll worry and with the wedding and a new baby to plan for, he needs to focus on himself and Paul right now.

  "Hey," Alex interrupts my thoughts. "Everything okay?"

  I muster up a smile that I'm just not feeling. "Yeah," I sigh. "I'm okay."

  Alex takes my drink from my hand, places both of our classes on the coffee table, and clasps his hands around mine. "Talk to me. I can see your worrying about something. Tell me what it is so I can help."

  We promised no more secrets that night we made love and reconciled. I have to be true to that – but I don't have to tell him everything.

  "I just don't want you to be upset by what the defense says. They'll try to create doubt – and they're going to use you as the scapegoat, Alex."

  "They've been doing that already. I deal with people questioning my involvement on a daily basis."

  "It'll be different in there. The will make faces, or write notes, and you'll start to surmise the reasons they're doing it, and probably conclude they're going to decide against you when they haven't even begun to deliberate. It will very likely frustrate the hell out of you if the defense looks like it's making points. I just don't want you to worry about anything. James will not be acquitted. He'll go back to prison where he belongs, completely exhausted of appeals." I swallow over the lump in my throat, clamp my eyes shut so he can't see the lie are about to tell him. "I promise."

  His thumb caresses the side of my cheek. "I know, baby. I have confidence that you'll win. There is no doubt my mind at all."

  Doubt is my constant companion these days. The fear that I'll lose this case. The overwhelming sensation that John is closer than ever to exacting revenge, and the knowledge that the tether of my sanity is unraveling and is tenuous, at best. I gaze into Alex's eyes, so alive and full of hope. I went to dive into them, immerse myself in the confidence–allow his unending strength to rejuvenate me, and release me from this dark place where I'm imprisoned.

  I take a deep breath, and smile. "I think I'll take a bath and turn my brain off for a while, if that's okay with you?"

  "Of course it is." He raises my hands to his lips and kisses them. "You take as long as you need. I'm going to finish up some work, then we can have a nice quiet dinner and talk all about Paul and Ryan's wedding."

  I snort. "You want to talk wedding plans with me?"

  "Absolutely." His grin lights up his entire face, and there's a glint in his eyes that ignites a flame in me. "I'll do anything you need me to, if it helps you relax and enjoy dinner –" He kisses the fingers on my right hand. "And the night –" is lips glide to my left hand, mirroring the action. "With me." His lips press hard against my ring finger, a jolt of electricity runs through my veins, strikes my heart, and shocks my core.

  "I'm going to make love to you all night long, make you forget about everything but you and me and how perfectly our bodies fit together." His voice lowers to whisper. "I promise."

  I know he'll keep his promise, and I've half a mind to skip my bath and let him take control of my body, but he stands and pulls me up with them.

  "Enjoy your bath, beautiful. I'll get you when dinner's ready."

  I smile, but can't pull my eyes from his. There's so much I want to say to him – the one thing I never considered until his lips caressed my ring finger. But the words are too jumbled in my head. I need time to examine what this new feeling is that's bouncing around in my heart and soul. I'm too exhausted, overwhelmed, and confusion has a tight grip on my brain. Alex is right, I need to relax and let go of everything.

  "I love you, Alex."

  His fingers glide over my cheek and gives me a soft, chaste kiss. "I love you, too, Kylie. Always and forever."

  Reyes enters my office, a manila envelope in his hand. "Stopped by to check in with Matt, and he asked me to deliver this to you." He drops the envelope on my desk and drops into the chair across from me, nods his head towards Lisa, who's sitting next to him, and peers expectantly at me.

  "And is this?" I ask, and lift the clasps on the envelope.

  "Psychologists report."

  I peruse the document, skim the bullet points to get a general idea of the report, and hand over to Lisa. "Can you make some copies of this? One for each of us and a spare?"

  "Sure. Want me to schedule a deposition of –" she flips to the back of the document, "Dr. Mason?"

  "You read my mind."

  "I'm on it." I miss working with Lisa. She's here when her law school schedule permits, but we have a symbiotic cohesiveness when we work up a case. She's the best of both worlds—smart and organized. She'll be an amazing attorney.

  She drops my copy of the psychologist report on the desk.

  I glance up at her. "Thanks," pick it up, ready to dive into it, and find a way to discredit this asshat.

  "Dr. Mason is available at the end of the
week," she adds. "I put it on your calendar for ten o'clock on Friday morning."

  "Perfect."

  "I need to take off a little early – I have a couple of cases to read before my Con law class this afternoon."

  "Ugh," I moan, an overly dramatic shiver runs through me. "I think I'm experiencing law school PTSD being around you." I snicker.

  "Yeah, well, you could've warned me about the Socratic method of humiliation."

  I shake my head. "No way – misery loves company. It's a rite of passage you have to endure to be a part of the club."

  "Awesome," she says, flatly. "Any other joys I can expect?"

  "Bar exam study – where you relearn your entire first year of law school in six weeks. Then there's the bar exam –"

  Lisa covers her ears and closes her eyes. "Stop, you fiend."

  "You asked." I shrug my shoulders.

  She shoots me the bird, turns on her heal, and leaves. Her laughter is barely discernible as she descends the stairs.

  Chapter Fifteen

  "Good morning, gentlemen." I stand behind my chair in the conference room, directly across from Dr. Gabriel Mason. Beside him is Jeffrey Hamilton. He's late fifty something, good-looking silver fox, and impeccably dressed. He pulls on his shirt cuffs, exposing gold and diamond cufflinks. Slowly, deliberately, his eyes take a demeaning journey up and down my body. I want to vomit, but plaster on the sweetest smile I can muster. I'm used to misogynists eye fucking me and assuming my only value resides between my legs.

  You go right ahead and under estimate me, prick.

  "Gentlemen, this is district attorney, Matt Gaines."